Tag Archives: Tom Sizemore

Strange Days

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Viewed – 02 February 2012  Blu-ray

German import review

Kathryn Bigelow may be more known these days for her Oscar-winning war movie The Hurt Locker, but once upon a time, she was one of the coolest directors around, responsible for the likes of vampire classic Near Dark, Keanu Reeves & Patrick Swayze thriller Point Break, and also this much underrated techno-thriller.  Based on a story by her then husband James Cameron (Terminator 2, Avatar) this tells the story of former cop turned dealer Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes) who instead of pedaling drugs, peddles ‘clips’; fragments of other people’s experiences recorded by a black market device known as the squib, and sold in clubs to rich business men.  He offers people the chance to experience things they would not normally experience, such as sex or armed robbery.  He’s the santa clause of the subconscious.  However, when a famous politically-themed rapper is murdered, events spiral out of control as a desperate hooker and two psychotic cops become involved and soon Lenny is racing against time to piece together the clues, as the clock ticks ever closer to the millennium.

At the time this was released (1995), there was much speculation about what the new century would bring, what would change, the millennium bug and everything that came with it.  Several other movies followed similar themes, but none did it in such a stylish, controversial and accomplished way as this.  The story tackles themes of racial tension, sex, violence, technology and love with intelligence.  At times some of the dialogue is a little too cool sounding to be convincing, and it does get quite complicated during its 2hr 20 minute running time.  Also some of the more controversial moments, like a first-person-perspective rape sequence, sit uneasily within the otherwise ‘cool’ vibe.  Yet the performances from not only Ralph Fiennes (playing against type), but also Angela Bassett, Tom Sizemore and a wonderfully sleazy Juliette Lewis (showing off a powerful rock chick persona) impress regardless.  Yet above all this is Bigelow’s show, and her direction is classy and confident.  She’s an incredible action director and with a daring but brilliantly written script to bounce her (ahead of its time) camera-trickery and booming soundtrack off, this remains one of those movies, that for me … made the nineties.

Strange Days hasn’t always been treated the best, with an almost bare-bones DVD version previously, boasting a pointless 40 minute commentary from the director and a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer … and at the time of writing, has yet to get a major release on Blu-ray.  Thankfully German label Kinowelt Home Entertainment has seen fit to release the movie as part of their Blu Cinematech label, in deluxe gate-fold packaging and with behind the scenes featurettes, a music video and a photo gallery.  Best of all the movie has been treated to a decent HD transfer that really upgrades the movie from previous releases, even if the mostly night time setting stops the picture from really popping.  The rock soundtrack sounds nice and punchy though and dialogue and effects are crisp throughout.  This is the kind of respect the movie has been sorely missing for years, and for now makes it the only edition worthy of your money.

Verdict:

(the movie) 4 /5

(the Blu-ray) 3.5 /5

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Saving Private Ryan

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Viewed – 28 April 2010  Blu-ray

I wouldn’t say I am a fan of war movies or movies that try to depict battles in history, but a chosen few can appeal, if they have that something special.  Braveheart is one, Full Metal Jacket another, and this, one of the most acclaimed World War II movies of all time, is another.  Why?  Probably because, unlike the recent Hurt Locker, its realistic depiction doesn’t alienate the viewer with an overly documentary approach.  This is still a movie, and as such certainly one of the most engrossing and rewarding war movies ever made.

Directed by the (almost always) excellent Steven Spielberg, this stars (at the time) heavy weight acting talent Tom Hanks as Captain Miller whose mission after surviving the Omaha Beach Landings (surely one of the greatest cinematic openings in movie history), is to track down a missing-in-action Private Ryan whose three brothers are all reported as killed, and the U.S. Army want to send him home to save his mother any further grief.  This mission divides the team of soldiers assigned to accompany Miller into enemy occupied France, as some think its suicide to risk their lives for one man.  Yet as the men bond during their various encounters with the German army, they come to realise the true meaning of war and the mission as a whole.

Stunningly shot with a ridiculous attention to detail, some superb battle sequences, and most importantly a cast of recognisable faces (Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi, Matt Damon etc) all delivering excellent performances, and this one ticks just about everything in the book.  The emotion and the unflinching horrors of war may be a little too much for some viewers, as this, like Spielberg’s earlier Schindler’s List tackles the subject with maturity, meaning that yes, sometimes its disturbing, heart-breaking and bloody – but above all else – it is brilliant viewing.

The Blu-ray is something to behold.  The detail on display is astonishing, making it definitely up there with the best I’ve seen so far, and the sound, in DTS HD Master Audio is thundering and crisp, and will breathe new life into any surround system.  Extras-wise we have a wealth of featurettes, including footage of the war itself, behind the scenes stuff and interviews, all on a separate disk.  Which makes this one package well worth your money.

Verdict:  5 /5

More Natural Born Killers

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Following my previous post reviewing the theatrical cut of the movie, I have recently got hold of the director’s cut on blu-ray (still currently only available in the U.S.), and although I stand by the review, saying what is available in this uncensored version has little effect on the overall entertainment of the movie, any fan of Natural Born Killers should know – this is a movie that should never have been cut in the first place.  Finally we get the warts-and-all complete version, that although structurally identical to the theatrical cut, has just that little bit more attitude and bite.

New to the Blu-ray director’s cut is a 22 minute documentary exploring the impact of the movie and how it would be treated in this internet, information-obsessed age, which is invaluable – as is the older ‘chaos rising’ featurette that appeared on the DVD version of this cut.  Add to this all the extras from the previous release and a 44 page booklet (with a new Oliver Stone introduction) that is basically a re-issue of the original releases’ book contents.  Shame on Warners for making us double-dip, but if like me you need to have NBK in your collection, this is well worth the purchase.

Still one of the boldest, daring and craziest main-stream movies ever made.

Natural Born Killers

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Viewed – 06 Feb 2009  Blu-ray

This is probably one of the most familiar films I have seen, having watched it several times over the years.  Telling the tale of love struck serial killers Mickey & Mallory Knox (Woody Harrelson & Juliet Lewis) and the media frenzy they inspire during a three week state-to-state killing spree.  Hot on their heels is maverick TV journalist Wayne Gail (a stunningly crazy Robert Downey Jr) and loose-cannon detective Jack Scagnetti (Tom Sizemore).

natural-born-killers

One of the most talked about movies of controversial director Oliver Stone’s career, this energetic satire of violence and the media is still as relevant now as it was back in 1994.  Some may see the film as just unrelenting violence, whilst others see it as a very intelligent attack on the media and its glamorisation of violence for the sake of ratings.  All angles are explored here, and no safe answers are given – Stone is never that easy to point the finger and answer your questions at the same time, he prefers you to make up your own mind.

Shot throughout with a hyperactive editing style, the film mixes stock footage, varying film types such as Super 8 to 35mm, black & white and animation, as well as images that vary from nightmarish to sexual.  Also worth mentioning is that the soundtrack is packed with some incredible choices of music from the likes of Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and Nine Inch Nails.  This may not be to everyones taste but when music and visuals come together, it works magnificently, lifting a fairly conventional lovers on the lam story to the heights of truly remarkable viewing.  Its an experiment that in my opinion makes this one of the most daring and unique movies of the last twenty years. 

This U.S. Blu-ray version is the theatrically released R-rated cut, and anyone who is familiar with the slightly longer directors cut may think twice before purchasing – but let me say this now … there is very little difference in the two cuts, and as far as scenes, tone and entertainment is concerned, both are identical.  I own both cuts of this film and can safely reassure anyone hesitating with this release that apart from extended violence in several scenes, none of the actual scenes are ruined as far as censorship is concerned.  I’ll even go as far to say that some of the additional violence comes across as excessive and unnecessary, and isn’t really missed by this viewer (apart from maybe the opening).  Now what is important is that the Blu-Ray picture is very nice indeed, even if during some of the best looking shots the details seem a little too smooth even approaching a plasticky-look that I have heard can happen when transferring back catalogue films to the high definition format.  But its still probably the best this film has looked in years – and with the differing style of film used throughout, we’re never going to get something that looks like Casino Royale anyway.  Sound wise we’re treated to a punchy Dolby True HD soundtrack that kicks ass for a film that is already a treat to the ears.  Extras are thin on the ground with the Chaos Rising documentary strangely absent from this release.  But we do get some interesting deleted scenes (my fave is the courtroom) and a commentary from Oliver Stone that is an essential listen for a film with so much to say.

Verdict:  4 /5